Automobile lock



D. '0. SMITH.

AUIOMOBILE LOCK. APPLICATION FILED SEPT- a, 192i Patented July 18,1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

D. C. SMITH.

AUTOMOBILE LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 8| 1921. 1 fig 3 6 Patented I 1113, 15.8, 1922.

4 J5; Q 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

.. lished except bythe use DAVID 0. SMITH, OF TOLEDO, QHIO.

AUTOMOBILE LOCK.

. messes.

Application filed September 8, 1921.

will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference bein had to the accom an in drawb ings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification My inventioiiiras tonits object to provide an efficient lock for locking asteering wheel from the steering shaft of an automobile. It particularly has for its object to provide in connection with such a look, a simple and efficient means that may be made'at a low cost of production that will permit disconnection of the steering wheel from the steering shaft without the use of a key and wherein the connection cannot be reestabof the key. Structures containing the invention may partake of different forms. To illustrate a practical application of the invention I have selected two structures that contain the invention and shall describe them hereinafter. The structures selected for purposes ofillustration are shown in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a top view of an automobile" steering wheel containing my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 indicated in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view similar to that of Fig. 2, showing a modified structure containing the invention. Fig. 4*shows the position of parts shown in Fig; 3 when the car is unlocked.

Fig. l is the steering wheel which has the rim 2 and the spider" frame 3. The frame 3 has a slotted portion 4 that is crossed by d portion 5 thereof that is cast integral with the spider. V

The wheel 1 is pivoted on the arm (5 by means of the pivot pin 7. The arm 6 extends from the shell 8 located on the end of the steering post 9. The wheel 1 is held in the steering position by means of the latch 10 located in the portion 5 of the spider i The latch 10 consists of the pin 12 that is spring pressed into an opening tor-med in the shell 8 by means of the spring 13 that is located between theend of the pin 12 and Specification of Letters latent.

v raise the pin 27. In order to Patented July 18, 1922. Serial No. 499,160.

the bottom of the socket 14 formed in the portion 5 of the spider 3. A lever 15 is pivoted in the portion 5 and is provided with a forked end 34 located on opposite sldes of the pin 12 and between the shoulders 16 whereby the latch may be released wheel 1 may be raised from the and the steering position.

The shell 8 is secured to the upper end of the shaft 9 by means of the cylindrical block 17 that is located between a shoulder 18 and the threaded disk 19 and by means of'th e nut 20 that is threaded on the end of the steering shaft 9. The block 17 is secured in position on the upper end of the steering shaft 9 by means and consequently the wheel 1, may be freely rotated about the shaft 9 without causing rotation of the shaft 9.

The sha'll may be connected or keyed ,to

the lock 17 by means ofthe locking bolt 22 that is located ates the trigger 26 so as to raise the pin 30. A releasing pin 30 extends into the hole intoextends when the wheelis which the pin 27 keyed to the shaft. The releasing pin 30 may thus beraised until its upper end isfiush with the upper side of the bolt 22 which will bring the up; per end of the releasing pin 30 flush with the upper surface otthe bolt 22 an adjustable threaded sleeve 31 may be located in the bolt 22 whereby the pin 27 may be raised just to the point that it will clear the bolt 22 when the bolt is pulled back bythe trigger 26. The slot 29 is of such a length that it will permit the bolt 22 to be drawn from the block 17 a suilicient distanceto cause the hole 32 to register with the pin 27. The pin of the shoulder 21. When i the steering wheel. is iinlocked, the shell 8 in the wall of the shell and i may be permitted to enter the slot; 23 formed. in the block 17. Thebolt22 may be pulled releasing 27 being spring pressed will thus enter the position and may be freely rotated on the.

shaft 9. If it is desired to lock the wheel to the shaft a key 35 may be inserted in the barrel 36 that is located in the shell 8 and the pin 27 may be withdrawn from the hole 32 whereupon "the bolt 22 by the operation of the sprin 33 will be pushed against the block 17. T e shell 8 and the wheel 1 may be rotated until the bolt 22 enters the slot 23, whereupon connection will be reestablished between the steering wheel and .the shaft.

' In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 3 the shell 8 is provided with the bolt I 37, in the center of which is located a pin 38 that is spring pressed by the spring 39 placed between a cross pin 40 that extends through the pin 38 and the disk 41 which is threaded into the opening 42 in which the bolt 37 and the pin 38 are located. A trig -E, ger 50 may be connectedgto the pin 38 for manipulatm the pin 38. The pin 40 extends throug the slot 43 formed in the bolt "37 which permits limited movement-of the pin 38 relative to the bolt 37 The pin 3S is provided with a pair of rounded shoulders,

44 forming a neck into which the end of the 38 is pulledback a short distance andw'hile the pin 40 is moving in the slot 43 the pin 45 is raised so as to ride on the head 46 of the pin 38. The pin 40 then engages the bolt 37 to pull the bolt 37. The lower endof the pin 45 is rounded sothat when the bolt 37 is engaged by the pin'40 the pin 45 willride onto the top of the bolt 37. The bolt 37 key is of -a lengthsuch that when its outer'end strikes the disk 41 the hole will re ister with the pin and the head 46' wi be with-' draw from beneath the pin 45 so that it cannot'be raised by the end of the head 46, the pin 45 .willthus hold the bolt 37 from the slot 23 until the pin45 is raised-by the "titted-relative to the shaft 9. When it is de-i' siredto lock the wheel to the shaft 9 the pin 45 is raised by. the key 49 which permits the spring 39 to push the pin38 and the bolt 37 I inward to cause vthe bolt 37 to be pressed against thesurfaoe of the block 17. f The wheel may then be rotateduntil the bolt 37 enters the slot 23 whichwill establish steering connection between the 'wheel 1 and the I claim: I

1. In a steering wheel and shaft locking means, a. shell connected to the steering wheel and rotatable therewith, a bolt located in the shell for connecting the 'shellwith the steering shaft, :1- locking pin 'adapted to extend into the .bo1t,"a key-actuated member for withdrawing vthe 'lockingpin from" the bolt ,-a second'mQVtbIe' pin forremovinig the 49. The wheel may then be freely ro-J locking pin from engagement with the bolt. .2. In a steering wheel and shaft locking means, a. shell connected to the steering Wheel and rotatable therewith, a bolt located in $5 jthe shell forconnecting the shell with the ing pin, the locking pin adapted to lock the bolt when the bolt is drawn from the wheel and shaft locking position;

3. In a steering Wheel andshait looking means, a shell connected to the steering wheel and rotatable therewith, a bolt located in the shell for connecting the shellwith the steering shaft, a key controlled locking pin adapted toextendfinto and engage the bolt when the bolt is in either the shaft and shell connecting position or in the shaft and shell an disconnecting position, a key actuated memher for removing the locking pinfrom the bolt, a member for removing the locking pin from the bolt independent of the key controlled member. I

4, In a steering wheel and shaft locking means, a shell connected to the steering wheel and rotatable therewith, a bolt located in the shell for connecting the, shell with the steer ing' shaft, a key" controlled locking pin adapted to extend into and engage the bolt when the bolt is in either the shaft and shellv connecting position or inthe shaft and shell disconnecting position, a key actuated member for removing the locking pin from the bolt, a pin' located in the bolt for 'removing the locking pin from the bolt.

5. In a steering wheel'and shaft locking,

means a shell connected to the steering wheel and rotatable therewith, a bolt located in the 10 shell for connecting the shell with the steer ing shaft, a key and a key controlled locking pin adapted to lock the bblt when withdrawn from its connecting position, and means for withdrawing the bolt from its connecting lot position'in'dependentof the operatibn of a key;

6. In a steerin wheel and shaft locking means, a shell'conneotedwto the steering wheel and rotatable therewith, abolt located in the 116) shell for connecting the shell with the steeringshaft, akey and a key controlled locking pin adapted to lock the boltwhen withdrawn from its connecting position, and means for diseonnectingtheipin from engagement with 1% the bolt when the bolt is. in its connected osition and operated independent. of the 'ev.

scribed my name, to'thisspecificat m i a A D sane In testimony-whereof I have hereunto sub- 

